NEW BRITAIN - The New Britain Bees are losing a quality arm, but hoping theyâ€™ve added another one to take his place.

The Bees announced Friday reliever Tyler Higgins had his contract purchased by the Seattle Mariners organization. He will report to Triple-A Tacoma. To fill his roster spot, New Britain is bringing back a familiar face, signing veteran left-hander Josh Outman.

â€śTyler has had a great season for us so far,â€ť Bees general manager Brad Smith said in a statement. â€śWeâ€™re very happy that he received this chance and we wish him the best of luck in his quest to make the Major Leagues.

â€śItâ€™s great to have Josh back with this ballclub. He pitched very well for the Bees back in 2016 and gives our pitching staff even more big league experience.â€ť

Higgins is the second Bees player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization. Kevin Chapman was the first when he was signed out by the Detroit Tigers organization on May 20.

In 14 games for New Britain this season, Higgins recorded a 1.88 ERA and three saves with 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings of work.

Outman returns to the Bees for his third season in the Atlantic League and second season with franchise. The left-hander was New Britainâ€™s starter for its inaugural game in 2016, going 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 starts that year and was eventually signed out by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Outman appeared in two games for the Sugar Land Skeeters last season before going to the Mexican League where he split time with the Monclova Steelers and Puebla Parakeets. Between the three teams, he went 7-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 59 innings.

The 33-year-old should bring even more experience to the Bees pitching staff. Outman spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues from 2008-09 and 2011-14 with the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees.

In 161 MLB appearances (32 starts), Outman owns a 16-11 record with a 4.43 ERA and 226 strikeouts in 274.1 innings of work.